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Following outrage expressed over its decision to ban commercial motorcycles and tricycles including bike-hailing firms including ORide, Max.ng and Gokada, on major roads, the Lagos State government has given reasons for the action.
Recall that the government banned “okada” and “keke napep” in some Local Governments Areas (LGAs) and local council Development Areas (LCDAs) citing the high accident and crime rates involving the transport media.
But firms like Max.ng, Gokada and ORide (a subsidiary of Chinese-backed OPay superapp) that are believed to be offering safer options were included in the ban and many have expressed rage, accusing the government of discouraging start-ups and investment ideas.
The Lagos State government has however maintained that it was not going back on the decision to include the bike-hailing firms. While addressing questions about the ban, the government said Gokada, Opay and others have been found to be part of the problem the government is trying to fix.
It said: “They have also been found to be part of the problem. The truth is that Okada, no matter what fanciful name it’s called, is not part of the Greater Lagos journey on which we have embarked. Our youths no longer learn the trades we used to be proud of – tailoring, bricklaying, printing, and others. Now we get artisans from neighbouring countries. Okada is not an enduring trade.”